Hinge and setting apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

In one aspect the invention comprises a quickly mountable hinge made of two parts. Each part is triangularly braced when mounted to a door or a doorjamb. The triangular bracing serves to keep the hinge elements from pulling loose. In another aspect, the invention includes an apparatus for preparing a doorjamb and a door edge to receive hinge parts by providing a cutout form for the door edge and the doorjamb to mate the parts of the hinge.

' United States Patent Gagner NOV. 11, 1975 HINGE AND SETTING APPARATUS THEREFOR [76] Inventor: Joseph L. Gagner, PO. Box 1406,

Los Gatos, Calif. 95030 [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 535,705

[521' US. Cl. 16/137 [51] Int. Cl. E05D 11/00 [58] Field of Search 16/164, 165, 167, 137, 16/138, 140, 128 R; 144/325, 326 R, 326 A, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,311,944 4/1967 Dufek 16/128 R 3805.325 4/1974 Lee .1 16/137 Prinmry E.\'uminerGeorge V. Larkin Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Gerald L. Moore [57] ABSTRACT In one aspect the invention comprises a quickly mountable hinge made of two parts. Each part is triangularly braced when mounted to a door or a doorjamb. The triangular bracing serves to keep the hinge elements from pulling loose. In another aspect. the invention includes an apparatus for preparing a doorjamb and a door edge to receive hinge parts by providing a cutout form for the door edge and the doorjamb to mate the parts of the hinge.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,918,122

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,918,122

FIG. 8

HINGE AND SETTINGAIPARATUS THEREFOR BACKGROUND oF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to hinges and setting apparatus therefor. Such hinges are useful on doors of various shapes and forms.

2. Description of the Prior Art In common door hinges the hinge arm is fastened to a door edge or a doorjamb by either nailing or screwing into the material of the mounting surface (which may be a door edge or a doorjamb). Because such doors are opened and closed any number of times, the force often exerted due to the weight of the door and the force applied by the door user tends to separate the hinge from the mounting surface by pulling loose the nails or screws holding it in place. Because of the usual force of gravity acting upon a vertically mounted door the topmost nails or screws holding a door in place tend to work loose first since these nails or screws tend to hold most of the weight of the door. After these top fasteners loosen, the weight is shifted to the next uppermost fastener and the loosening process continued until the door comes completely loose and will not close properly.

Some attempts have been made to design more firmly mounting hinges. Of interest in this regard is the hinge disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,279,509 issued to L. Heathington. The hinge disclosed in this patent includes a plug designed to fit into a well sunk in a mounting surface with a nail being driven from the side of a door or doorjamb adjacent the mounting surface through a hole in the plug. Use of this hinge requires precise alignment of the hinge and the nail used to hold it in place. Also, since the nail is driven in from the side of the door or doorjamb extra finishing work is required to disguise the nailhead so the exposed surface will have a finished appearance. Further, the hinge of the Heathington patent is held in place by a nail which itself is secured only by wood.

It is the primary object of the subject invention to provide a hinge having an improved mounting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a hinge comprising a pair of mountable hinge elements adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, one to a doorjamb and the other to a door edge. Each of the mountable hinge elements includes a flat arm having a mounting plug integral therewith and insertable into said mounting surface. Each arm includes a sleeve integral with the arm adjacent the other end thereof having a pin bore therethrough, the longitudinal axis of the bore being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug. A pin is adapted to be inserted in the pin bores of each of the pair of mountable hinge elements. Through the arm intermediate the plug and the sleeve is an angled guide hole passing from a face thereof removed from the mounting surface to the face thereof facing the mounting surface. The plug has an angled receptor orifice therein. The axis of the hole is aligned with the axis of the receptor orifice so that a cylindrical member such as a nail'inserted through the hole in line with the axis thereof enters the orifice and thereby triangularly braces the hinge;

The invention also comprises an apparatus for preparing a mounting surface such as a doorjamb or a'door edge to receive hinge elements mountable thereto; The apparatus includes a cutting member, the cutting member including a shaft, one end of which is adapted to be rotated and a cutting wheel drivably attached to the other end of the shaft. Intermediate the shaft and the cutting wheel is a bearing through which the shaft passes and a plate extending outwardly from the bearing. Between the plate and the cutting wheel means is provided for positioning said wheel relative to said bearing and said plate, said positioning means abutting said bearing and said plate and terminating adjacent said wheel. The apparatus also includes a T-shaped member adapted to fit against said mounting surface and to guide said cutting member in the preparation of a recess adapted to matably receive the hinge part. One arm of the T-shaped member is adapted to fit against the mounting surface and the leg of the T-shaped member is adapted to fit against a flat side surface such as the face of a door or the wall adjacent the doorjamb perpendicular to said mounting surface. The T-shaped member has means therein for guiding said positioning means when the plate is slid along upon the arms thereof. The guiding means extends to the end of the other arm of the T to form an orifice for receiving said positioning means so that said cutting wheel cuts into said mounting surface to provide one portion of said recess. The T-shaped member further includes a slot through the other arm thereof from top to bottom thereof immediately adjacent the leg of said member. The slot is adapted to receive and guide the plate parallel to the leg, the leg including means therein for receiving and directing said positioning means so that said cutting wheel cuts into said jamb or edge to provide another portion of said recess. The apparatus also includes a drill guide comprising a drill bushing passing through a flat member, the flat member being adapted to fit over said form. The apparatus still further comprises a drill guide positioner, adapted to fit against said mounting surface to matably receive said drill guide with said drill bushing aligned so that a hole can be drilled into said mounting surface in a controlled directron.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective one embodiment of the hinge of the present invention as installed.

FIG. 2 is a top view further illustrating the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the hinge part of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view further illustrating the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective yet another embodiment of the hinge part of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective a cutting member and a T-shaped member which form part of an embodiment of the apparatus for preparing a doorjamb and a door edge to receive hinge parts.

FIG. 7 is an end view illustrating ope ration of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a drill guide and a drill guide positioner for aligning said drill guide which are also part of an embodiment of the apparatus for preparing the doorjamb or door edge.

FIG. 9is an end view illustrating operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprising the braced inset hinge 11 including a pair of hinge elements 13 and 15 fixed to a door edge 17 and a doorjamb 19 illustrated in phantom. The hinge element 13 includes a flat arm 21 adapted to be inset so as to form a flush fit with a door edge or a doorjamb. a mounting plug 23 adapted to fit into a hole drilled into the door edge or jamb and a sleeve 25. Similarly the hinge element 15 includes a flat arm 27, a plug 29 and a sleeve 31. A pin 33 is inserted in a pair of pin bores 34 of the sleeves to allow a pivoting of the two hinge components. A pair of caps 39 are press fit into the pin bores to hold the pin therein.

The arms 21 and 27 each have a face thereof 41 and 43, respectively, adapted for attachment to a mounting surface. in this case, the doorjamb l9 and the door edge 17, respectively. The hinge parts 13 and 15 each fit within a recess which has been cut into the door edge 17 and the doorjamb 19, respectively. For convenience hereafter description is made only of the hinge part 15 although it is to be understood that the hinge part 13 is substantially identical thereto.

The sleeve 31 and the pin bore 34 are formed by bending the arm 27 back upon itself to form support tab 35. The edge 36 of the tab. when the tab is inset into the door edge 17, abuts directly against wood or the like thereby providing resistance against forces tending to cause rotation about the longitudinal axis of the arm which forces would result from the weight of the door. The one end 37 of the arm is arcuate as is the one end 38 of the tab so as to facilitate preparing the door edge to receive the hinge element 15. The plug 29 has a tunnel 40 passing therethrough axially thereof. This is advantageous in that it allows the plug to be driven into a hole sunken in the mounting surface relatively easily even if this hole is a very tight fit. And it is preferred that the hole be a tight fit so as to add to the rigidity and strength of mounting of the entire hinge.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention which is identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except as pointed out in the following. In particular, there is extending from the one end 37 of the arm 27 an ear 44, said ear also extending perpendicularly to the plug 29. One face 45 of the ear as will be readily apparent from FIG. 3 is adapted to be attached adjacent the mounting surface. The ear provides extra resistance against torque exerted by the door upon the plug. As will be noted, the one end 38 of the tab 35 is bent away from the arm 27 and parallel to the plug 29. This provides greater support to the hinge against rotary forces acting upon it due to the weight of the door. In particular, the one end of the tab, the tab itself, and the arm are all sunk within a recess 46 cut into the door edge 17. Hence, the edge 36 provides significant support against rotary motion and tearing out of the hinge element 15.

Referring to FIG. there is illustrated an embodiment very similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the single difference between the embodiment being that there is a second ear 47 extending from the one end 37 of the hinge part symmetrically placed from said first ear 44. The secondear provides still more resistance against torque exerted by the door upon the plug A hole 48 which passes through the arm 27 provides the means for unique triangular bracing of the hinge element 15 in the door edge 17. This hole is locatedbetween the plug 29 and the sleeve 31. The hole serves" as a guide and is angled as it passes through the arrn so that if a cylindrical member 49 such as a nail or a screw is inserted through the hole in line with the axis thereof, as for example, by simply being hammered into the hole, the cylindrical member will proceed forwardly and into an orifice 51 in the plug, the axis of the orifice being in line with the axis of the hole. The plug 29 is integral with the arm 15 for strength and extends perpendicularly therefrom so as to be insertable into a hole drilled into the door edge 17.

When hinge part 15 is mounted in a door edge 17 and a cylindrical member 49 is driven in place in the hole 48 and through to the appropriate orifice 51, strong and unique triangular bracing is provided to keep the hinge element 15 from coming loose when the door is. opened or closed. It should be noted that this is com pletely metallic bracing which includes the arm 27 and 3 the plug 29 bracing the cylindrical member 49 adjacent the ends thereof. Also, the weight of the door does not lead to a force acting along the nails length to pull it I out. Further, because of the alignment of the hole 48 with the orifice 51 insertion of the cylindrical member.

49 in proper alignment is automatically provided for.

passage 52 is therefore provided through the tab, the passage being aligned with the hole and with the orifice THE RECESS FIGS. 6 and 8 most clearly show the recess 46 which is drilled and routed into the door edge 17 and which serves to tightly and matably hold the hinge element 15 with its outer face 53 flush with the door edge. The recess includes one portion thereof in the door edge 9 adapted to receive the hinge element 15 and another portion 61 thereof in the door side 62 adapted to receive the one end 38 of the tab 35. A hole 63 is drilled into the one portion 60 of the recess perpendicularly thereto. The hole serves to receive the plug29. The

ledge 64 of the one portion 60 and the ledge 65 of the. other portion 61 serve to provide support for the edge 36 of the tab 35.

HINGE-SETTING APPARATUS FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the hinge-setting apparatus of the present invention. This apparatus includes the cutting member 75, the T-shaped member 77, the drill guide 79 and the drill guide positioner 81. Use of the apparatus leads to the preparation of the recess 46.v

The cutting member comprises a shaft 83, one end of which, 85, is adapted to be rotated as by attachment to a drill motor or the like. A cutting wheel 87 is attached to the other end of the shaft and is drivable by the shaft. The shaft 83 passes through a bearing 89. A plate 91 extends outwardly from the bearing and is secured thereto. Positioning means 93 are provided for positioning the wheel in spaced relationship relative to the bearing and the plate, the positioning means being nonrotating and abutting the bearing and the plate and terminating adjacent the wheel. The preferred positioning means comprise a first guide disc 95 through which the shaft passes abutting the bearing and the plate intermediate the bearing and the wheel and a second guide disc 97 through which the shaft passes abutting the first guide disc and terminating adjacent the wheel. The positioning means when used in conjunction with the T-shaped member 77 as described in following al lows the quick and accurate preparation of the recess 46 shaped to matably receive the hinge part 15.

The T-shaped member 77 is adapted to fit against the door edge 17 and the door side 62 and to guide the cutting member 75 in the preparation of the recess 46.

One arm 99 of the T-shaped member is adapted to fit against the door edge 17. The T-shaped member has a leg 101 adapted to fit against the door side 62 (or against the wall adjacent a doorjamb if the T-shaped member is fit against the doorjamb 19 rather than the door edge.) The leg fits against the door side 62 per pendicularly to the door edge 17. The one arm 99 and the other arm 105 of the T have guiding means 107 therein for guiding the positioning means 93 when the plate 91 is slid along upon the arms of the T-shaped member. The guiding means extend to the end 109 of the other arm of the T-shaped member to form an orifice 111 for receiving the positioning means so that the cutting wheel 87 cuts into the door edge 17 to provide one portion 60 of the recess 46. The other arm of the T-shaped member further includes a slot 115 passing therethrough from top to bottom thereof immediately adjacent the leg of the T-shaped member. The slot is substantially equal in length to the width of the plate and is adapted to receive and guide the plate parallel to the leg so that the cutting wheel cuts into the door side 62 to prepare the other portion 61 of the recess 46. The positioning means 93, comprising the first guide disc 95 and the second guide disc 97, fits within the guiding means 107 of the arms 99 and 105 of the T- shaped member 77 with the first guide disc within the seat 121 and the second guide disc within the seat 123. The bottom 125 of the plate 91 fits flatly upon the arms 99 and 105 of the T-shaped member while the discs are being guided by the seats. When the plate 91 is guided downwardly through the slot 115, the first guide disc 95 and the second guide disc 97 proceed into a means for receiving and directing said positioning means 93, namely the cavities 127 and 129, respectively, cut into the leg 101 of the T-shaped member 77 adjacent its juncture with the arms 99 and 105 thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the sinking of the hole 63 into the door edge 17, using the drill guide 79 in conjunction with the drill guide positioner 81 is described. The drill guide 79 comprises a guide plate 133 having a drill bushing 135 attached to pass therethrough. The drill guide positioner 81 includes a slot 137 adapted to matably receive the guide plate and a slot 139 formed by a shoulder 141, said slot 139 being adapted to guide the drill bushing whereby a bore 143 is aligned in a desired position so that the hole can be drilled into the mounting surface in a controlled direction. As is clear, the drill guide positioner is first placed over the recess 46 which has been cut into the door edge 17 utilizing the cutting member 75 in conjunction with the T-shaped member 77. Thereafter, the drill guide is inserted within the slots 137 and 139 as previously discussed and finally a drill 145 is passed through the bore and is drilled into the mounting surface as deeply as desired. As is illustrated in FIG. 9 only, a bushing spacer 147 can be used within the bushing 135 to guide the direction of the drill 145.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A flush mounted hinge comprising:

1. a pair of mountable hinge elements adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, one to a doorjamb and the other to a door edge, each comprising:

A. a flat arm adapted to be attached with one face thereof abutting said mounting surface;

B. a mounting plug integral with said arm adjacent one end thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom so as to be insertable into a hole in said mounting surface thereby fixing the hinge elements to their respective surfaces; and

C. a sleeve integral with said arm adjacent the other end thereof having a pin bore therethrough, the longitudinal axis of said bore being parallel to the mounting surface to which the element is fixed, said arm having a guide hole therethrough intermediate said plug and said sleeve angled toward the mounting plug, said plug having an angled receptor orifice therein aligned with the guide hole axis, such that a cylindrical member inserted through said guide hole in line with the axis thereof enters said orifice to thereby triangularly brace said element to said mounting surface; and

2. a pin adapted to be inserted in the pin bores of each of said pair of mountable hinge elements to attach the elements while allowing relative rotation about the bore axes.

2. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein said hinge elements further comprise a tab extending from said sleeve along the one face of said arm.

3. A hinge as in claim2, wherein said one end of said arm is arcuate and one end of said tab removed from said sleeve is arcuate so as to facilitate preparing said mounting surface to receive said hinge element.

4. A hinge as in claim 3, wherein said hinge elements further comprise a first ear extending from said one end of said arm perpendicularly thereto and perpendicularly to said plug, one face of said ear being adapted to be attached adjacent said mounting surface.

5. A hinge as in claim 4, wherein said tab extends sufficiently far to cover said hole, said tab including a passage therethrough aligned with said hole and with said orifice.

6. A hinge as in claim 5, wherein said tab adjacent a tunnel passing therethrough coaxially thereof, said one end thereof is bent away from said arm and whereby said plug can be force fit into a close tolerance parallel to said plug. tap hole. I

7. A hinge as in claim 6, wherein said hinge elements 9. A hinge as in claim 8, including a pair of caps further comprise a second ear extending from said one mountable in press fit, one in each of said bores to hol end of said arm symmetrically from said first ear. said pin therein.

8. A hinge as in claim 7, wherein said plug includes 

1. A flush mounted hinge comprising:
 1. a pair of mountable hinge elements adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, one to a doorjamb and the other to a door edge, each comprising: A. a flat arm adapted to be attached with one face thereof abutting said mounting surface; B. a mounting plug integral with said arm adjacent one end thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom so as to be insertable into a hole in said mounting surface thereby fixing the hinge elements to their respective surfaces; and C. a sleeve integral with said arm adjacent the other end thereof having a pin bore therethrough, the longitudinal axis of said bore being parallel to the mounting surface to which the element is fixed, said arm having a guide hole therethrough intermediate said plug and said sleeve angled toward the mounting plug, said plug having an angled receptor orifice therein aligned with the guide hole axis, such that a cylindRical member inserted through said guide hole in line with the axis thereof enters said orifice to thereby triangularly brace said element to said mounting surface; and
 2. a pin adapted to be inserted in the pin bores of each of said pair of mountable hinge elements to attach the elements while allowing relative rotation about the bore axes.
 2. A hinge as in claim 1, wherein said hinge elements further comprise a tab extending from said sleeve along the one face of said arm.
 2. a pin adapted to be inserted in the pin bores of each of said pair of mountable hinge elements to attach the elements while allowing relative rotation about the bore axes.
 3. A hinge as in claim 2, wherein said one end of said arm is arcuate and one end of said tab removed from said sleeve is arcuate so as to facilitate preparing said mounting surface to receive said hinge element.
 4. A hinge as in claim 3, wherein said hinge elements further comprise a first ear extending from said one end of said arm perpendicularly thereto and perpendicularly to said plug, one face of said ear being adapted to be attached adjacent said mounting surface.
 5. A hinge as in claim 4, wherein said tab extends sufficiently far to cover said hole, said tab including a passage therethrough aligned with said hole and with said orifice.
 6. A hinge as in claim 5, wherein said tab adjacent said one end thereof is bent away from said arm and parallel to said plug.
 7. A hinge as in claim 6, wherein said hinge elements further comprise a second ear extending from said one end of said arm symmetrically from said first ear.
 8. A hinge as in claim 7, wherein said plug includes a tunnel passing therethrough coaxially thereof, whereby said plug can be force fit into a close tolerance tap hole.
 9. A hinge as in claim 8, including a pair of caps mountable in press fit, one in each of said bores to hold said pin therein. 